The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to feature a major design overhaul, improved display with privacy features, a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and potential native Qi2 charging, making it a compelling upgrade over the Galaxy S24 Ultra, especially for those seeking better ergonomics and new features. However, camera upgrades may be minimal, and pricing could be higher.
Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 introduces a groundbreaking Privacy Display mode that automatically activates for sensitive content and in crowded places, enhancing user privacy significantly, although it requires new hardware and won't be available on current models.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to feature a groundbreaking display with advanced OLED technology, including a brighter, thinner screen using M14 material and innovative CoE tech, aiming to surpass competitors like the iPhone 17 Pro in display quality and set a new benchmark for smartphones.
Samsung's Galaxy S25 FE, a mid-range smartphone, offers significant upgrades over the Galaxy S20 FE, including a larger 6.7-inch display, a more premium design with armor aluminum and Gorilla Victus+ glass, a powerful 4nm Exynos 2400 chipset, a 50MP main camera, and a larger 4900mAh battery, all at a slightly lower price, reflecting Samsung's ongoing improvements in hardware and software.
Verizon is offering a deal where customers can get an iPhone 17 Pro for free (up to $1,100 off) with a trade-in and a new unlimited plan, available for pre-order on Friday and releasing on September 19. The deal requires an eligible trade-in device from Apple, Google, Motorola, or Samsung, and a 36-month service plan. Additional offers include discounts on Apple Watch and iPad when purchasing new devices, with various trade-in and bundle options. The deal is rated 4/5 by ZDNET and may last at least through the preorder week.
The iPhone 17 Pro is rumored to feature significant upgrades including a 24MP front camera, a 48MP telephoto lens, a new camera bar design, faster A19 Pro chip with 12GB RAM, and new colors, making it a compelling upgrade from the iPhone 16 Pro for photography, performance, and aesthetics.
The Pixel 10 primarily focuses on AI integration, offering numerous helpful AI features and improvements like a brighter display, better battery, and wireless charging, but it faces criticism for camera downgrades, lack of reverse wireless charging, and some underwhelming AI functionalities. Overall, it represents Google's push towards AI-centric smartphones, emphasizing personalized and proactive AI experiences, though some hardware and software choices may disappoint tech enthusiasts.
Google is set to unveil the Pixel 10 series next week, which will feature significant upgrades like MagSafe-like charging, the new Tensor G5 chip, and a dedicated telephoto camera for the non-Pro model. It's advisable to wait until the official release to purchase, as older models may see price drops and the new features could influence your decision. Currently, only buy if your existing Pixel is unusable or damaged.
After a year of using the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the author is not interested in upgrading to the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max due to personal preferences and minimal perceived benefits, despite rumors of hardware improvements like a larger display, better cameras, and increased RAM. The current device still meets their needs, and they believe the incremental upgrades may not justify a new purchase at this time.
The article discusses whether to buy the iPhone 16 now or wait for the upcoming iPhone 17, which is expected to launch in September with rumored upgrades like a 120Hz display, improved camera, and design tweaks. While the iPhone 17 may offer some enhancements, the differences are likely modest, and current needs or discounts on the iPhone 16 could influence the decision. Major redesigns are anticipated for the 20th anniversary model next year.
The Google Pixel 10 is set to launch on August 20, 2025, with significant upgrades over the Pixel 9, including a faster processor, new camera features, and larger batteries, making it worth waiting for, especially for those interested in camera and performance improvements. However, the Pixel 9 remains a good option if you want a discount now, unless you're a gamer or sensitive to PWM dimming, in which case waiting for the Pixel 10 Pro series is advisable.
The iPhone 17 Pro is rumored to feature significant upgrades including a 24MP front camera, a 48MP telephoto lens, a new camera bar design, faster A19 Pro chip, increased RAM to 12GB, and a switch from titanium to aluminum, making it a compelling upgrade from the iPhone 16 Pro.
The base model iPhone 17 is now expected to feature the A19 chip, similar to the Air model, but will retain 8GB of RAM instead of the 12GB upgrade seen in Pro models, indicating a potential shift in Apple's hardware strategy for the upcoming release.
Samsung is offering up to $1,200 off on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 through trade-ins, along with a free 512GB storage upgrade and a $50 accessory credit for pre-orders, making it a compelling time to upgrade, especially for those trading in recent Samsung or iPhone models.
T-Mobile has introduced a new plan called Go5G Next, which allows subscribers to upgrade their smartphones every year. Similar to the Go5G Plus plan, Go5G Next offers additional data and roaming perks, but with the added benefit of a yearly device upgrade. Subscribers need to pay off half of their phone's value before trading it in for a new device, which can be done as early as six months after the previous upgrade. The plan also grants access to T-Mobile's promotions, and while it comes at a higher cost of $100 per month for a single line, it offers perks like Apple TV Plus and Netflix subscriptions.
